Rev. Jonathan Mayhew

January 01, 1700 - January 01, 1700

"To a generous mind, the public good, as it is the end of government, so it is also such a noble and excellent one, that the prospect of attaining it will animate the pursuit, and being attained, it will reward the pains. The very name of patriotism is indeed become a jest with some men; which would be much stranger than it is, had not so many others made a jest of the thing, serving their own base and wicked ends, under the pretext and colour of it. But there will be hypocrites in politicks, as well as in religion. Nor ought so sacred a name to fall into contempt, however it may have been prostituted & profaned, to varnish over crimes. And those times are perilous indeed, wherein men shall be only lover of their own selves, having no concern for the good of the public. Shall we go to the pagans to learn this god-like virtue? Even they can teach it. ... [A Christian lacking patriotism] ... would be a reporach not only to his religion, a religion of charity and beneficence, but even to our own common nature, as corrupt and depraved as it is. But how much more infamous were this, in persons of public character? in those, on whom the welfare of their country, under providence, immediately depends?"source: Election sermon, 1754.patriotism, hypocrites, politics, christianity

Quote of the Day!

Enter your email and get daily quotes of genius from the Founders sent to your inbox!

Sponsors

The 9.12 Project Network
rights reserved.

The website whatwouldthefoundersdo.org purpose is to helping Americans and foreigners understand the issues
of today's world in relation to the ideas of America's Founding Fathers and Founding Mothers, using their own words.
Wwfd has no alliances or affiliations with, or accepts donations from any polictical party. We offer the information
on this site without interpretation or partisan emphasis.